Continuing Education Program Aids Park

KISSIMMEE — Chan Ho Park throws very hard, but learning how to pitch is the Korean-born pitcher's ticket into the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation.

Manager Tommy Lasorda said Park ''has great stuff, throws harder than anybody in our organization, but must learn what to throw in certain counts.''

Park's selections approached perfection Friday. He struck out four and held Houston hitless for four innings. Park got a no-decision in the Dodgers' 4-1 loss at Osceola County Stadium.

''I have a good fastball, a good curveball, but my changeup today made me very happy,'' said Park, who walked two. ''If I get the changeup over, it will be very difficult for hitters.''

An infield chopper by Mike Simms, which Dodgers third baseman Rick Parker speared, was as close as the Astros came to a hit against Park.

Park, the first Korean player in major-league history, said he expects to improve once he learns American hitters.

''I have a hard time remembering names,'' he said. ''The more I learn about them, the better I'll get. I have very little experience (two years in the minors), but my confidence is growing. I can pitch at this level.''

Lasorda isn't big on radar guns, but Park's fastballs were clocked at 99 mph in October in San Diego.

Lasorda is big on experience. Park's lack of it is a concern. Signed in 1994 as a free agent, Park has eight innings of major-league experience.

''He hasn't pitched that much, not even in college,'' Lasorda said. ''What he lacks is seasoning.''

Park, 22, has made seasoned hitters look bad this spring.

While heralded teammate and Japanese darling Hideo Nomo has floundered (0-1, 7.20) during the exhibition season, Park leads the Dodgers in ERA (1.84) and strikeouts (14). Dodgers coach Joe Amalfitano said the decision whether to keep Park or Pedro Astacio when the Dodgers break camp ''is going down to the wire.''

Should Park make the Dodgers' roster, his strategy is to ''watch (the Braves' four-time Cy Young Award winner) Greg Maddux pitch and learn from him. He knows every hitter, but I have a better fastball.''